National Poetry Month Celebration 2015

Bio: Stephanie Battle is an African American poet, educator, and recent graduate of Bowie State University. Her poems “Breasts” and “Remission” have been published in the Bowie State University English Journal, The Torch. These poems are from her short collection of work on the subject of breast cancer, Wildfires. Currently, Stephanie is working on a project that will allow elementary and middle school aged children in Maryland to be introduced to the art of poetry and performance at a local performing arts aftercare program. She is also working toward her first full-length publication. When she is not working with children, she spends most of her time at poetry workshops, reading, or performing at a local open-mic poetry night.Ultimately, Stephanie is on a journey to use her writing as a tool to navigate through life and bring about positive change in her community.

The Interview

1. Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry?I draw inspiration to write poetry from my own life experiences and those of the folks I come in contact with regularly. Also, controversial topics and current events in the African-American community spark my interest.2. What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?Think of poetry as experience. Often times the “threatening” thing about poetry is how intellectually complex a poem is, or how hard it may be to understand the words. A wise professor taught me, someone who found comprehending others’ poetry difficult, to think of poetry as a human experience that exists outside of words, first. If you can’t experience a poem first, the words can be difficult to understand. So yes, when it comes to poetry, intellectual understanding should be secondary to experience.3. What is an interesting fact about you? My birthmark is a planet in my left pupil. They call it a coronary cataract. No worries though, it’s asymptomatic!4. Where are you from/Where do you live? Washington DC, Metropolitan area5. Who is your favorite poet?This is always a difficult question..I have a great deal of love and respect for my poetic mothers: Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucile Clifton, Audre Lorde (list goes on and on) But if you are brave enough to take this poetic journey, I LOVE YOU!

A Poem

Lines

i want to be lines In palm Nucleus of touch Creases with Full consciousness Un-forgeable Curves Undulating To know congas Smooth skin And hips The smack of Blown kiss To be lit And feel heat To be pressed And press back While catching The shortness Of breaths Whispered In prayer

LOVE IT!!! Proud of you Steph. I love the breakdown of the poem, I GET IT.

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Monica Hand

4/15/2015 10:29:33 pm

This poem speaks to me of self-determination. The poet is drawing her own shape...determining who she shall be. She is not a static form she is the lines and the curves...the "pressed" and the "pressed back." I am so happy to see Stephanie's poem reach audiences beyond WDC.

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Jasmine Jones

4/16/2015 12:09:01 am

I love it Steph. Great interview and well written biography. So proud of you.

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Kalito

4/16/2015 01:50:28 am

Stephanie is dope

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Clay

4/16/2015 01:51:19 am

Steph, you are awesome!

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Samantha

4/16/2015 04:10:41 am

Go ahead Steph... paving the way ahead :) Keep running with the Fire

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CJ Campbell

4/16/2015 10:32:55 am

Stephanie did a good job of making the poem be creative. I also like the format it is in.

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Yvonne

4/16/2015 05:26:03 pm

Simply fabulous! Congratulations on a job well done. You will undoubtedly inspire millions of children and adults with your poetry. I am so proud of you.

I thought of the hands while reading this. The lines in the palm of your hands experience so much as they are used. The palm of your hand feels smooth skin and the curve of the hips. Those are some of the things that stood out to me. Thank you for sharing.

It's wonderful to see this beautiful young lady beginning to make her mark!

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Rahjané Wheeler

4/22/2015 01:24:42 pm

Stephaine is doing a good job. Her writting is very creative.

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Ife Rotimi

4/22/2015 10:46:26 pm

I admire the poetry she writes along with what she is aiming for in life. If it's based on personal experience then that means she knows she is not alone and wants others to know that they are not alone too.
For that she haves my respect

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